A Eurostar train at London St Pancras International, the Channel Tunnel terminus for trains from Paris.
Photo: Oxyman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Paris to London by Train
An international route between France and United Kingdom.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-27
- Duration
- 2h 15m – 2h 40m
- Price from
- 39 EUR
- Distance
- 344 km
- Operators
- Eurostar
- Frequency
- Around 15-18 direct trains per day, fewer on Saturdays
Compare and book Paris–London tickets
Check pricesWhat makes Paris to London different
- The train runs through the Channel Tunnel, a 50.45km bore (37.9km of it under the seabed) — the longest undersea tunnel section in the world — with the crossing itself taking about 20 minutes.
- Eurostar has been the sole passenger operator through the Channel Tunnel since it opened in 1994; despite periodic attempts by other operators to enter the market over the years, no rival through-service has launched.
- This is the only Eurostar route from Paris that requires clearing full UK exit and French/Schengen entry border control (juxtaposed immigration checks) before boarding, not just security screening.
Paris station
Departs from Paris Gare du Nord in the 10th arrondissement, Europe's busiest railway station overall — the London-bound Eurostar terminal has its own passport and security screening area, entirely separate from the Amsterdam/Brussels departure lounge and the domestic platforms.
London station
Arrives at London St Pancras International in Camden, next to King's Cross, with direct access to six Underground lines plus Thameslink and East Midlands Railway — arrivals and departures use separate areas of the station.
Train vs. other options
Flying Paris-London takes about 1h15m in the air, but once you add transfers to/from Charles de Gaulle or Orly and Heathrow (each roughly 45-60 minutes from their city centers) plus airport check-in and security, door-to-door time is often longer than the roughly 2h15m Gare du Nord-to-St Pancras train.
Booking tips
- Eurostar releases new fares roughly 6 months ahead — the cheapest Standard tickets go on sale then and sell out fastest for Friday evening and Sunday departures.
- Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently cheaper than Friday or Sunday.
- Book Standard class well ahead rather than Standard Premier/Business Premier if price matters most — the gap between advance and last-minute fares is large.
Good to know: Because you clear both UK and French/Schengen border control plus security screening before boarding, Eurostar recommends arriving 60-90 minutes before departure — check-in itself closes 30 minutes before departure (10 minutes for Business Premier) — versus the 5-10 minutes you'd budget for a domestic TGV.
While you're in London
Tower Bridge over the Thames, completed in 1894.
Photo: Rafa Esteve / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)2026 is a big year for London museums, with the British Museum hosting the Bayeux Tapestry's first-ever loan outside France — pair that with the Tower of London's Crown Jewels and the city rewards a bit of advance booking.
Full London travel guide →Frequently asked questions
How long is the Eurostar from Paris to London?
The fastest direct trains take around 2 hours 15 minutes through the Channel Tunnel. Services with different stopping patterns can take up to about 2 hours 40 minutes.
How early should I arrive for the Paris-London Eurostar?
Arrive 60-90 minutes before departure — you need to clear French/Schengen exit checks, UK entry border control, and security screening before check-in closes 30 minutes ahead of departure.
Is Eurostar the only train option between Paris and London?
Yes — Eurostar is currently the only passenger rail operator running through the Channel Tunnel, so there's no lower-cost rail competitor on this route.